William subnet



l iile in perspective.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM BURNET, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

NEWSPAPER-FILE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 46,072, dated January 31, 1865.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, WILLIAM BURNE'I, of the city and county of Providence, and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and improved iile for hloding newspapers while reading, or any other sheets which it is desirable to hold in extended forms; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full and exact description thereof, illustrated by -the accompanying drawings, witi the figures and letters marked thereon, referred to in and making a part ot' this schedule.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view of the Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a cross-section;

The saine letters refer to the saine parts in each iigure.

Fig. 2 shows the construction of the tile.

A A is a round wooden rod of such size and length as is suited to the use to which it is to be put. This rod 'is grooved out longitudinally, as seen at B B, to allow the folded paper to s1nk into it and sutlciently deep to take in the requisite number of sheets. This groove does not extend the whole length of the rod, enough of it being left round to forrn the handle G, by which the file is held while reading. The handle C is bored out sufficiently deep to hold a strong spiral spring, D. Through this spring passes a strong cord or wire, E, which shuts into the groove and holds the paper therein. The wire or cord is fastened to the spiral spring at a at one end, while the other end is aflixed to the knob F, which is so shaped that its conical portion b sinks into a countersink made in the upper end ofthe rod A A, the retraction of the spiral spring holding the whole in place after the paper is placed in the groove.

Fig. 3 shows the shape preferably given to the groove-viz., slightly wedge-shaped.

When a wire is used instead of a cord, it Inust be jointed at the groove where it terminates, to allow it to swing easily out and in.

Modef use: Draw up the knob F to free its conical end from the countersink. The string or wire is then easily removed from the recess'or groove in the rod, fold the paper over the cord or wire, replace the string or Wire in the groove again, draw up the knob, place it in position, and the spring will hold the whole in place, repeating the process until as many leaves are placed in it as it will hold.

I ani aware that various devices have been patented for holding newspapers on tile While reading7 and therefore I do not broadly claim this; but I ain not aware of any of such lightness and simple construction as mine or of so simple and easy operation.

Therefore, what I consider novel and useful, and wish to claim, is-

The single rodv with a longitudinal groove or recess to receive the back of the folded sheets, the cord or wire shutting into the groove and attached at one end to the spiral spring contained in the handle, and the other attached to the conical shaped knob fitting the countersink in the top of the rod, all made and operating substantially as set forth, or their mechanical equivalents.

WILLIAINI BURNET.

Witnesses:

J AMES M. EARLE, AsA STONE, Jr. 

